Elevation of serum soluble E-selectin and VCAM-1 in severe asthma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of circulating adhesion molecules associated with leucocyte-endothelial cell interactions in asthma, serum levels of soluble E (sE)-selectin, soluble P (sP)-selectin, soluble L (sL)-selectin, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in mild, moderate and severe asthma. METHOD: Serum levels of sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sL-selectin, and sVCAM-1 were measured in 32 women with asthma and 30 healthy donors using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Twenty patients were suffering from severe asthma, and 12 from mild/moderate asthma. RESULTS: Serum sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels from patients with asthma were significantly higher than those observed in healthy donors (p < 0.01). The levels of sP-selectin were the same as those of controls. The level of sE-selectin exhibited an important increase in the severe asthmatic patients compared with mild/moderate asthma (p < 0.01). The sVCAM-1 level was increased in severe asthma when compared with healthy controls. There was no correlation between the levels of soluble selectins and the age of the patients. A significant correlation was found between sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that circulating soluble forms of the selectins may have different kinetics during the clinical course of asthma, suggesting that they may reflect different inflammatory pathways in severe asthma. Both sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin may be useful immunological markers for monitoring disease activity in asthma.     

Purification and characterization of an alkaline protease from Pseudomonas aeruginosa MN1

An alkaline protease produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa MN1, isolated from an alkaline tannery waste water, was purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified 25-fold by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography to a specific activity of 82350 U mg⁻¹. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 32000 daltons. The optimum pH and temperature for the proteolytic activity were pH 8.00 and 60°C, respectively. Enzyme activity was inhibited by EDTA suggesting that the preparation contains a metalloprotease. Enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺(5 mM), while Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ resulted in partial inhibition. The enzyme is different from other Pseudomonas aeruginosa alkaline proteases in its stability at high temperature; it retained more than 90% and 66% of the initial activity after 15 and 120 min incubation at 60°C. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 291–295. Received 09 June 1999/ Accepted in revised form 24 January 2000     

Ultrasound Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Peaches and Pumpkins

The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was used to optimize the extraction of phenolic compounds from pumpkins and peaches. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to study the effects of three independent variables each with three treatments. They included extraction temperatures (30, 40 and 50°C), ultrasonic power levels (30, 50 and 70%) and extraction times (10, 20 and 30 min). The optimal conditions for extractions of total phenolics from pumpkins were inferred to be a temperature of 41.45°C, a power of 44.60% and a time of 25.67 min. However, an extraction temperature of 40.99°C, power of 56.01% and time of 25.71 min was optimal for recovery of free radical scavenging activity (measured by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reduction). The optimal conditions for peach extracts were an extraction temperature of 41.53°C, power of 43.99% and time of 27.86 min for total phenolics. However, an extraction temperature of 41.60°C, power of 44.88% and time of 27.49 min was optimal for free radical scavenging activity (judged by from DPPH reduction). Further, the UAE processes were significantly better than solvent extractions without ultrasound. By electron microscopy it was concluded that ultrasonic processing caused damage in cells for all treated samples (pumpkin, peach). However, the FTIR spectra did not show any significant changes in chemical structures caused by either ultrasonic processing or solvent extraction.     

Locomotor behaviour in males,females and groups of Orchestia montagui (Amphipoda,Talitridae) in the supralittoral zone of Bizerte lagoon

Locomotor activity rhythm of Orchestia montagui was investigated under constant darkness in a population collected in spring from the supralittoral zone of Bizerte lagoon (northern region of Tunisia) at Menzel Jmil in spring. This rhythm was recorded in individual and groups of animal by infrared actography every 20 min by multichannel data loggers, at a constant temperature of 18 ± 0.5 °C. According to double-plotted actograms, wave forms and periodogram analysis, results revealed different locomotor pattern. However, locomotor activity rhythm of males was more stable than females. Furthermore, the mortality was statistically higher in unmixed groups than in mixed groups.     

Injected Progestogen and Lactation

Norethisterone ethanate (200 mg every 84 days) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (150 mg every three months) were found to be completely effective in fertility control when started in the puerperium. Neither agent had any ill effect on the amount of milk or the duration of lactation. From the third month onward the three-hourly available milk and the infant weight gain per month were statistically higher in treated groups than in controls. Milk proteins showed a slight decrease in most groups, including the controls, owing to the low-protein diet.No important side effect was produced by these agents other than amenorrhoea.     

Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase- and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Egyptian Patients with Suspected Blood Stream Infection

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemase production among Enterobacteriaceae isolated from Egyptian patients with suspected blood stream infection.MethodsNinety-four Enterobacteriaceae blood culture isolates from Egyptian patients with suspected blood stream infection were collected, one isolate per patient. Identification of bacterial isolates was performed with MALDI-TOF (MS-based Vitek MS system, bioMerieux). Screening for ESBLs and carbapenemases production was done with the Vitek 2 system (bioMérieux). ESBL production was confirmed using the combined disk diffusion method for cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and cefepime, all with and without clavulanic acid (Rosco). Real-time PCR and sequencing were used to characterize the resistance genes. The phylogenetic groups of E. coli were identified by a PCR-based method.ResultsOf the 94 Enterobacteriaceae isolates 46 (48.93%) showed an ESBL phenotype. One Enterobacter spp isolate was ESBL-producer and meropenem-resistant. The genetic analysis showed that CTX-M was present in 89.13% (41/46) of the ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, whereas TEM and SHV were detected in 56.52% (26/46) and 21.74% (10/46) respectively (47.83%) of the ESBL-producing isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR). Eleven out of 30 ESBL-producing E-coli isolates were assigned to phylogroup B2, followed by groups B1 (8 isolates), A (6 isolates) and D (5 isolates).ConclusionsThe high ESBL-E rates (48.93%) found in this study together with the identification of one carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter spp isolate is worrisome. Our results indicate that systems for monitoring and detection of ESBL-producing bacteria in Egyptian hospitals have to be established. Also strict hospital infection control policies with the restriction of the consumption of extended-spectrum cephalosporins are necessary.     

Association of laryngeal and nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: a case report

Introduction

To the best of our knowledge, the association of nasopharyngeal and laryngeal tuberculosis has never been described before in the literature. We report here a first observation.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 38-year-old Arab man who presented with an isolated hoarseness. Radiological and endoscopic examinations showed a thickening of the left lateral wall of his nasopharynx and the left vocal cord. Pathology revealed the diagnosis of tuberculosis of both localizations. He received a 6-month antituberculous chemotherapy with a satisfying uneventful evolution.

Conclusions

Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue masses of the head and neck, particularly when the imaging findings and clinical presentation are atypical. The diagnosis of tuberculosis is mainly based on histopathological and/or bacteriological examination.     

Protocol for a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial of lithium carbonate in patients with amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (LiCALS) [Eudract number: 2008-006891-31]

Background  

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by loss of motor neurons leading to severe weakness and death from respiratory failure within 3-5 years. Riluzole prolongs survival in ALS. A published report has suggested a dramatic effect of lithium carbonate on survival. 44 patients were studied, with 16 randomly selected to take LiCO₃ and riluzole and 28 allocated to take riluzole alone. In the group treated with lithium, no patients had died (i.e., 100% survival) at the end of the study (15 months from entry), compared to 71% surviving in the riluzole-only group. Although the trial can be criticised on several grounds, there is a substantial rationale from other laboratory studies that lithium is worth investigating therapeutically in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.     

Structural analysis of alfa grass (Stipa tenacissima L.) lignin obtained by acetic acid/formic acid delignification

Alfa grass lignin obtained by the acetic acid/formic acid/water CIMV pulping process was characterized by FTIR and (1)H, (13)C-(1)H 2D HSQC, and (31)P NMR spectroscopies. Lignin samples purified by further dissolution/precipitation or basic hydrolysis steps were also analyzed. The CIMV alfa lignin is a mixture of low molar mass compounds (M(n) = 1500 g/mol) of SGH type with β-O-4 ether bonds as the major interunit linkage. The crude lignin contains fatty acids and residual polysaccharides. It also contains large amounts of acetate and hydroxycinnamates, mostly in the γ-position of β-O-4 interunit linkages. Although partial acetylation induced by the process cannot be excluded, the absence of aromatic acetates and acetylated polysaccharides in crude lignin demonstrates the mildness of the process. By combining smooth alkaline hydrolysis and dissolution/precipitation steps to the CIMV pulping, it is possible to produce a purified lignin with a composition and a structure quite analogous to that of the native polymer in the plant.